Samson JJ Bows To Delilah Konadu

The programme was to start at 8am but took off after 12noon. It was brief. Two unnamed people who picked up nomination forms were said to have rescinded their decision for the “highly popular” Mrs. Rawlings. There general complaints by the delegates that they were left hungry. Moreso, a mammoth rally planned to be held after the congress was also cancelled.

To many Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, last Saturday, got endorsed as flagbearer of the National Democratic Party (NDP) at Kumasi, for the 2012 general elections putting an end to claims and denials that the ex-First Lady has an ambition to become President after 19 uninterrupted years, as the number one woman.

But very few people know that in the Rawlings household, Nana Konadu is the husband and Mr. Rawlings is the submissive wife, very hapless.

He is said to have told confidants that some of the positions he had taken that seemed politically awkward and stupid had been at the instances of his wife.

Though giving the impression outwardly that he is tough, Mr. Rawlings is said to be helplessly tied to the end of his wife’s apron strings. He sits by himself most often, playing with toy aircrafts like a kid and at other times weeping uncontrollably.

His mother, Madam Victoria Agbotui in recent times, The Herald can reveal, had stormed the Ridge Office of her daughter-in-law, loudly blaming her for bringing her son’s image to such low esteem, and destroying a political career he had built for himself.

Mrs. Rawlings was said to have locked herself up in one of the offices, refusing to come down and meet an equally tough mother-in-law.

Indeed, Mr. Rawlings knows and tells close confidants that the NDP—nicknamed Lorlonyo party in the Volta Region or Lovers Party, as it is known among other sections of Ghanaians—will not fly because his “husband” is not an Eva Peron to Ghana’s politics.

However, the motive of the Rawlingses, given last Saturday’s development, is to strike at the fortunes of President John Dramani Mahama and thus send the NDC into opposition. In his speech at the brief Congress, Mr. Rawlings audaciously asked why elements in the NDC feared going back into opposition.

According to him, a house cleansing exercise would rock the NDC after the 2012 elections, when it finds itself in opposition, for the reason that it (party) had been plunged into corruption and its related vices to the extent that it had lost its “moral high ground” which used to be its hallmark.

But perhaps unknown to him, his wife, like the Biblical Delilah, is leading him into the hands of the “Philistines”. The saying on the streets of Kumasi today in reference to President John Mahama as a Northerner is that “Ghana n’aye fu a paopa fuo kurampo di adie”. To wit, the standards have fallen in Ghana to the extent that even hewers of wood and drawers of water have assumed important roles and are calling the shots.

Political watchers have said that Mr. Rawlings’ support for his wife in this misadventure did not stem from conviction.

They have long wondered what sort of person Jerry Rawlings is. A cursory glance at his political history reveals he eventually falls out with his favourites, easily becoming their enemies for disagreeing with him.

The list is tall but those who readily come to mind include Boakye Djan, former president Kufuor, the late K.N. Arkaah, Kwesi Botchway, Obed Asamoah, Ato Ahwoi, KojoTsikata, Tsatsu Tsikata, the late Courage Quashigah, Victor Smith, the late Mawusi Dakeh, Kofi Totobi Quakyi, P.V. Obeng, GoozieTannor, Assasie Gyimah, Prof. Kofi Awoonor, Ato Austin and many more.

These people were one time his favourites who would defend him to death. But for whatever reason no one can put a finger on why he fell out with them, one-by-one. Perhaps, it could be that he felt betrayed after reposing trust in them or perhaps Jerry Rawlings is simply not an embodiment of what he preaches on a political platform.

The only person he has not fallen out with is his wife, Mrs. Rawlings. It is an open secret within the NDC that anybody who dares coming between “Naaana,” “Yormoe,” or “Madam” as Mrs. Rawlings has variously been referred to would have his or her face bloodied. It is said within the corridors of the NDC that “where Nana Konadu points Rawlings goes”.

Within the NDC, sometimes ago, KojoTsikata is reported to have slapped the all-powerful Mrs. Rawlings at a meeting during which she made a very derogatory comment against Captain Tsikata’s persona, and within minutes Mr. Rawlings, who was the president then ordered the arrest and detention of his security capo.

It took senior members of the government to talk him out of his stance, but within days Captain Tsikata resigned. The late Col. Jeff Asmah took over and was later succeeded by Kofi Totobi Quakyi, after the former’s death. Captain Tsikata’s relationship with Chairman Rawlings has since gone from bad to worse.

Indeed, some four years ago, when Mr. Rawlings was verbally assaulting “Gestapo” Obed Asamoah, a lifelong pal, ex-Achimota schoolmate and also landlord of Captain Tsikata, Mr. Rawlings’ attempts to draw Captain Tsikata into the fray over cash with Obed Asamoah received a sharp response from the usually quiet but well-connected captain.

He instructed some worried NDC MPs, who had met in his Abelemkpe residence in Accra, to warn Mr. Rawlings to stop or else he (Rawlings) would look for a hole to hide in, but won’t get any, apparently referring to some skeletons Mr. Rawlings might have in his closet. Till date, it is unclear whether that message got to him, but he has not been heard saying anything against Captain Tsikata.

History tells us that true and dedicated revolutionaries hardly keep a family. To them, the country and the individual citizens are their family. At best they keep their wives in the backburner and it is when they allow them to be in the forefront that ideological friends become foes overnight.

Mandela divorced Winnie Mandela shortly after his return from prison. The wife of Fidel Castro is relatively unknown while revolutionary icon, Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s family is largely unrecognized. Yasser Arafat kept his wife indoors. Silently, colleagues of Mr. Rawlings say Nana KonaduAgyamang Rawlings is the one who have put to question his revolutionary credentials.

Some even went biblical with the character of Rawlings. Samson fell to Delilah, David to Bathsheba, Solomon the acclaimed man of wisdom maintained lots of women including Queen Sheba. Joseph had to resist Potiphar’s wife while in slavery in Egypt while the Lord Christ, whom Mr. Rawlings sometimes compares himself to, albeit disputed, almost fell for one of Lazarus’ sisters, Mary.